K-Indie ‘Studio BB’ and Japan’s Phoenix Announce Global Co-publishing with ‘Monowave’

▶ Collaboration with Japanese game publisher Phoenixx to launch full-scale global market expansion
▶ Scheduled for release on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch in 2026, expected to support 10 languages
▶ CEO Lim Kwon-young: “We will leverage the strengths of both Korea and Japan to achieve good results on PC and console platforms”

Indie game developer Studio BBB Inc. announced on the 16th the global co-publishing of the emotion-themed puzzle action game ‘MONOWAVE’.

Studio BBB is partnering with Japanese game publisher Phoenixx Inc. to launch Monowave into the global market and plans to participate in the Tokyo Indie Game Summit 2026, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan on March 20 and 21.

Through this collaboration, Studio BBB and Phoenix will work closely together across development, publishing, and user communication. Studio BBB plans to elevate the artistic quality and completeness of ‘Monowave,’ while leveraging its accumulated understanding of the genre to ensure the game’s identity and appeal are consistently conveyed to users. Phoenix will contribute to platform expansion and support for overseas markets based on its publishing experience.

Phoenix is a Japanese game publisher established in 2019, engaged in the planning, production, and promotion of games and related merchandise, as well as creator support businesses. Based on a creator-centric philosophy, the company has continued its publishing business and is also working to revitalize the related ecosystem by participating in the planning and operation of indie game events.

“We believed that close cooperation between a developer who fully understands the inherent charm and message of a game and a publisher who can effectively connect it to the market is crucial,” said Lim Kwon-young, CEO of Studio BBB. “We will focus on further enhancing the game’s quality while preparing to ensure that more users can naturally experience the value of the work. Together with Phoenixx, we will strive to achieve meaningful results not only on PC but also on console platforms including the Nintendo Switch.”

He added, “We will repay those who have watched Monowave for a long time with a well-finished product and an official launch.”

■ A puzzle action adventure that uses emotions to open the way

‘Monowave’ is a puzzle action game where the player becomes the spirit ‘Mono’ and harmoniously restores the scattered emotions of the world. It features a puzzle-solving system where players utilize four emotions—happiness, sadness, anger, and anxiety—according to the situation, and exchange emotions with surrounding beings through ‘songs’.

In particular, it emphasizes a game design that focuses on resonating with the opponent’s emotions and cooperating, rather than attacking and eliminating enemies. It delivers a differentiated experience through line art reminiscent of a single stroke, neon-color-based visuals, and a structure that centers on emotion as the core of gameplay.

Based on such originality and quality, ‘Monowave’ was nominated for the Gamescom Awards 2025 and Devcom Awards 2025 in Germany, and won the Indie Game Awards 2025 at the Taipei Game Show in Taiwan.

■ Participation in Tokyo Indie Game Summit 2026

Studio BBB plans to operate a demo booth for ‘Monowave’ at the ‘Tokyo Indie Game Summit 2026,’ which will be held on March 20 and 21. Visitors will be able to play the game firsthand on-site and find merchandise such as stickers and memo pads that reflect the game’s worldview.

Through this participation, Studio BBB plans to expand its contact points with local Japanese users and industry stakeholders, while also gradually expanding global promotion and communication with users that will begin in earnest following the announcement of the co-publishing.

‘Monowave’ is currently under development for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch with a target release date of 2026, and is preparing to support 10 languages, including Korean, English, and Japanese. Information regarding the game can be found on the official website and the Steam store page.